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The Caged Bird Sings

Making a living is not the same thing as making a life — Maya Angelou

Why do I work? A question we probably do not ask of ourselves nearly enough. Do I work to work? Do I work because I have to? Do I work because I’m expected to?

When we don’t know why we work, we don’t know how to work.

When we don’t know why we work, we end up working too much, too hard, and for all the wrong reasons. That’s how we end up burned out and fed up. When we don’t know why we work, the work becomes the goal. The work becomes the end instead of the means.

When we don’t know why we work, we end up the king of an empty castle, our throne atop a mountain of unfulfilled dreams.

But as Maya Angelou said in her unmistakable voice:

The free bird thinks of another breezeand the trade winds soft through the sighing treesand the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawnand he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreamshis shadow shouts on a nightmare screamhis wings are clipped and his feet are tiedso he opens his throat to sing

The caged bird singswith a fearful trillof things unknownbut longed for stilland his tune is heardon the distant hillfor the caged birdsings of freedom.

If you are that caged bird take heart, there is a song yet within you. Your dreams are not over. If you are burned out or fed up take heart. Your song is not silenced.